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An informal survey of red-state Congressional offices showed a ticket crunch even in places you might least suspect.
AP Photo

In his column last Sunday for the San Francisco Chronicle, former Mayor Willie Brown had a piece of advice for blue-state Democrats looking to score presidential Inauguration tickets: Call a Republican.

Preferably, a Republican in Oklahoma.

“I mean, how many people from Oklahoma think this is the nation's biggest historical moment?” the mayor ventured. “My bet is, not many. So lawmakers there will have plenty of tickets to give away.”

“I think it’s silly to assume there are no Democrats in a Republican district,” says Sara Lasure, communications director for Arkansas Republican Rep. John Boozman, whose office is among those feeling the ticket squeeze.

Stories out of GOP House offices in the two weeks since Election Day suggest that many people around the country are appealing to conservative members from far-flung corners of the country for an extra ticket here or there, only to find that there aren’t any left.

Each House member has an allotment of 198 tickets to distribute. And while Republican offices are by and large getting significantly fewer requests than Democrats, they are still fielding intense interest from within their own constituencies, let alone from those outside them.

Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-La.) says he’s received calls from students overseas telling him that they’ve already booked plane tickets to Washington for Jan. 20 hoping he's got a ticket to spare. They’ll have to get in line.

What about Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), who infamously questioned Barack Obama’s patriotism in the leadup to the election? Well, as of last week, according to spokeswoman Mary Vought, her office was already informing people calling in for tickets that requests had exceeded capacity.

And Sarah Palin country?

“I have no idea how many names are on [our] list,” says Meredith Kenny, press secretary for Alaska Republican Rep. Don Young, “but I know it’s lengthy. It’s a bit premature to say what we will do with the tickets since we don’t even have them in hand yet, but it certainly appears as though we will be able to use all of our tickets.”

Alison Lynn, communications director for Republican Texas Rep. Mike Burgess says their office had received over 2,300 requests for tickets as of last week's end, more than 10 for each ticket they'll receive. And that's not to mention the numerous phone calls and 20 formal letters from Democratic members —including Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas, Mike Turner of Ohio, Eleanor Holmes Norton of the District, and Chaka Fattah of Pennsylvania — pleading for extras.

When asked, Lynn couldn’t think of any Republican office that she’s heard of with tickets to spare.

“If they did,” she says, “it would be the best-kept secret in Washington."

Jason Chaffetz, the Republican congressman-elect from Utah’s 3rd Congressional District, says his office is planning on giving a portion to Democratic members. “I would hope that sometime soon, they would do the same for us,” he said.

Chaffetz has received numerous requests from around the country, and recalled one e-mail with a man from Brooklyn, who promised to vacation with his family in Utah in exchange for the hot tickets.

“That’s not going to have any weight on whether he will have any tickets,” says Chaffetz, “although it really made me smile. He and I have written back and forth now five or six times now. He is certainly doing everything he can to win me over.”

Still, Chaffetz is quick to beat back the notion that just because someone didn’t vote for Obama, that means they’re disinterested in the inauguration.

“It’s a historic moment,” he says. “We have patriotic Republicans who also want to attend.”

Readers' Comments (12)

well, i wish i could come to the inaugauration but kinda tied up. But hey i know even the GOP die hard rednecks will like to take a peek into what a historical day it will be. Don't be left out. I formally nominate Vlad the impailer(whatever his name is) and Frederick, the guy whose IQ is as big as Sarah palin's IQ. ya betcha

This is bigger than red states and blue states, America is showing the world once again why it is that this is the country were democracy never dies and will never die, no matter how many disgraceful presidencies (Bush Jr. and Nixon come to mind) history throws our way we are always bound to get a Kennedy or an Obama, even if its just once every century!

of course there is a demand in rep. offices for these tickets. republicans know how to make money. there are enough idiots out there who actually fell for the deceptive tricks of the muslim obama that will max out their credit cards to pay for the tickets. who knows maybe the congress will bail them out.

What is really sad is the fact that Kennedy and obama are striking different on their views of the world and dim bulbs like you don't bother to see what kennedy actually did in office or believed in. you sir are utterly useless.

Of course there are Democrats in Republican white trash districts who would like to attend the inauguration ceremonies....And of course, not everybody is allowed to go to the ball nekked and drink Ripple unless their fairy godmother lets them.. They are better off sweeping the cinders from the fireplace, pullin grass in the backyard, and being glad they don't turn into a GOP pumpkin at midnight............

What is really sad is the fact that Kennedy and obama are striking different on their views of the world and dim bulbs like you don't bother to see what kennedy actually did in office or believed in. you sir are utterly useless.

It's ********! Stella Parham of Grand Praire Texas(My Wife's Grandma) has attended the inauguration of every President since Truman! She is the wife of Thomas Parham (SM1C)- captured by the Japanese at the Battle of the Java Sea when the USS Houston was sunk- they would always go together every 4 years- the last was 2000 because he passed away on 12/10/03 in Grand Praire, so I went with her in 2004. It didn't matter if they agreed with the results or not- it was a part of history. Now- it's ********! I can't get tickets- the great senator's we have here in Texas never even responded to my emails! At least Bill White wrote a letter apologizing for not having any passes......Granted- we would have had to go and then leave the next day since it is IMPOSSIBLE to find a room unless you're rich- but this is a disgrace! Tickets are being sold all over the internet for prices only the wealthy can pay- well...... THAT IS REAL CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN. Robert H